Submitted by: Dawn Stieneker
Unit: Art and Technology - Design - Alexander Calder
Lesson Plan: Utilitarian Design
Grade Level: Middle School

• Gain an awareness for the work of Alexander Calder
• Study a variety of utilitarian objects and discuss their purposes - What makes a good design?
• Create graphic of a utilitarian piece using computer graphic software (any paint program 
  will do)

images of work by Alexander Calder, Computer, Paint software (any program will work), printer.
Web Quest worksheet.

utilitarian - organic - inorganic 

Show students examples of Alexander Calder's utilitarian works. Show examples of utilitarian objects from around the house. Someone had to design the objects.

1. I started with a general discussion of what art is and where we find it...
   
   The first day I introduced some of Calder's utilitarian works - the airplane, a hammock, the spoons and utensils he made for his house, and his wife Louisa hooking a rug for their house.
   
   We also talked about shapes - organic and inorganic shapes. Look a variety of utilitarian objects - discuss form and function.
   
   
2. The next day we went to the lab. We looked at Calder's sculptures and mobiles. This would be a good time to do the Alexander Web Quest assignment (Dawn was not able to complete the web quest)
   
   Students learned about repetition and overlapping.
   
   We then had a lesson on the paint and draw tools. Students were required to use the icons to create geometric shapes and had to use the free draw tool to create their own organic shapes.
   
   Students then learned how to copy and paste and resize their shapes - and save images
   
   
3. The next day we returned to the lab to create our own utilitarian designs. 
   
   We looked at Calder's sculptures again and talked about balance and point of emphasis.
   
   Students then began working independently.  Some classes took 2 days to complete their designs; others took 3. 
   
   They had to print out a black line version of their design (we didn't have access to a color printer) and then went back and colored it using paint tools and textures and saved their final image to disk. 
    
4. Students were then required to write and proposal/artist's statement saying what the designs were intended for and how they went with Calder's work.
   
   This was followed by our first critique.
   
   After this I used Calder's wire sculptures to lead into contour drawing.

INTRODUCTION                                          name___________________________

A collector of art has recently acquired one of Alexander Calder’s mobiles.

You have been commissioned to design a utilitarian piece of artwork that will compliment (not mimic) Calder’s artwork.

TASK

Coincidentally, the collector’s new piece is currently online at   (in other words, you get to select it!)

http://www.calder.org/ Or   http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/calder/realsp/roomenter-foyer.htm

Title: ___________________________________________

Carefully analyze the work and consider how Calder used the elements and principles of design.

What types of shapes were used? ____________________

Were they used repeatedly? _________________________

What is the color scheme? __________________________

Where is the point of emphasis? ______________________

How is it balanced? ________________________________

PROCESS

You will be using a paint program to create your utilitarian design. 

·       Use both geometric and organic shapes in your design.

·       Use repetition of line or shape.

·       Have an identifiable point of emphasis.

·       Balance the composition.

(print the composition before filling in colors)

·       Select a related color scheme.

SAVE AS:  class period-last name     (ie. Art2-Stienecker)

EVALUATION

10% - Effort                                             50% - Project criteria

10% - Originality                                                (geometric and organic shapes,

10% - Artistic Process                                       color scheme, repetition,

10% - Craftsmanship                                          emphasis, balance)

10% - Artist’s statement

Check Off List

Effort - I am following instructions and using my time well                        __________

Originality -  I am generating ideas related to task                                    __________

Artistic Process – I am effectively planning and refining ideas                __________

Craftsmanship – I am exploring the medium appropriately                      __________   

Project Criteria

My design uses…

            Geometric and Organic shapes                                                 __________

            A similar color scheme                                                                 __________

            Repetition                                                                                        __________

            Emphasis                                                                                                 __________ 

            Balance                                                                                             __________

Artist’s Statement – My statement articulates my intent                         __________

 CONCLUSION

At a time many artists were extremely serious in the creation of “modern” art, Calder was playful.  He surrounded himself with his creations.  He did not make distinctions between “high art” found in a museum and “low art” found in the everyday world. 

Do you consider utilitarian objects art?  __________________________________

________________________________________________________________

What would life be like if this type of work did not exist?   ___________________

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